RStudio: Easy to Use Interface For R and Google Analytics Data #measure Part One: Setup

RStudio: FOSS Interface to R

The limitations of widely used existing business solutions for statistical programming have led many organizations previously opposed to FOSS solutions deploy R.

With the release of RStudio the bar to gain entry into the world of R has been lowered so dramatically there is functionally no excuse aside laziness to avoid R.

In part One of this series we will set up RStudio, in Part Two we will pull data from the Google Analytics API and chart up some cool charts. All that in less than 30 minutes.

Your choice. Red pill or blue.

Install R

There are numerous exemplary instructions on how to install R for your computer, the high notes are:

Linux

I would start with the GUI for your software manager, Synaptic on Debian/Ubuntu. Look under the “GNU R statistical programming sections.”

Select, download, install, get going with your life.

Windows

Windows installers exist; a detailed FAQ for R on Windows is available on the CRAN website.

There is even a slick plug-in for Excel called RExcel freely avaialble on the RExcel website.

Mac

The FAQ for R on Mac is ‘rather incomplete,‘ their words, but according to the documentation it can be installed on OS X 10.2+.

RStudio

There is a company with the same name, so make sure you navigate to the correct RStudio site: http://rstudio.org/.

RStudio: Server or Desktop?

After selecting that you want to download RStudio, you are presented with the option to download either the Desktop or Server version. Select the appropriate version for your use, I’m guessing Desktop.